PROCLAIM THE LAW SAYS WOODSTOCK

Press Release

Winnipeg, June 1, 2015: 

Green Party of Manitoba Family Services Advocate Don Woodstock says the NDP Government should proclaim the law requiring mandatory reporting of critical incidents involving children in care that it passed nearly a year ago.

The Child and Family Services Amendment Act (Critical Incident Reporting) was passed in June, 2014, but has never been proclaimed. This law would strengthen protections for children and compel those looking after children in care to report critical incidents immediately. It followed the Hughes inquiry into the murder of Phoenix Sinclair.

Because the law is set to come into force by proclamation, it has no force until the Cabinet sets a date to make it law. A year has passed and no date has been set to bring this law into effect. “The Government must finish the job and proclaim the law,” said Woodstock.

“I'm appalled at the government's foot-dragging,” said Green Party of Manitoba leader James Beddome.

Proclaiming the Act is a first step but much more is needed,” noted Woodstock. “Addressing the root causes of poverty, decolonization, and lack of fair work opportunities are key to fixing our child and family system. Government failure to proclaim its own act demonstrates complete inaction in the face of a burgeoning crisis. This is not acceptable.”

“We need more than empty promises,” said Woodstock commenting on the recent announcement by Family Services Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross. On April 1, 2015 she promised that the Government would stop housing children in care in hotels by June 1, 2015. Irvin-Ross has now admitted this will not happen in northern and rural Manitoba until December 1, 2015.

Woodstock said the Green Party of Manitoba has begun a consultation with stakeholders in the Child and Family Services system to find solutions to the crisis. “We will work with a wide spectrum of experts, especially those who have been harmed by this system,” Woodstock said. “The solutions exist and we will present them to the people of Manitoba over the coming months.”

The clock is ticking.  This is the first press release of many to come.  We are looking for solutions.  All the children and families that have been and/or currently effected by the actions of CFS give me a call at (204) 880-1564 or email me at donwoodstock@gmail.com

It's your hurt and experiences that will shape a new model for the next generation of children.

The ultimate goal is to prevent us from continuing on the same path.

A brighter future for the children of this province.

Happy Easter to ALL!! Let's continue to SERVE!!

Happy Easter to ALL!!  Let's continue to SERVE!!

For those who celebrate Easter this is a time for sharing, caring and giving Thanks for the many blessings we have received.  To my Family and Friends, may this Easter and Always draw you closer in love with your neighbours.  To me, I particularly like Easter because it gives me an opportunity to reflect on the true meaning of the season.  For me, if you have not been sharing in someway with your neighbours, your friends or even strangers, I hope this Easter you will begin.  The value of this behaviour is PRICELESS.

There are alot of people who have built their homes on straw which will, in due time, will burn to the ground.  Some even built their homes on sand, but that will wash away in a flood.  Here is why I say this:

To serve in your community is indeed a blessing and for those serve in the West End and other communities hats off to you and I pray for God's Blessing on your family and their families.  Then there are others who have been pretending to serve and pretending to care, and somehow find themselves in a position of authority, power and influence without the fundamental understanding that you MUST serve the people - friends and neighbours - if you wish to stay in authority.  Over time, your house will crumble and today you believe you're in Heaven but you are really living in hell.

Imagine sitting in front of Bill Gates, one of the world's richest men, and you ask him for $100,000 or 10 computers, and he says to you "I can't give this to you."  You would be in disbelief.  This is totally in his grasp to give.  A disciple sat with Christ before he left this Earth and he asked a simple request to "Make him Great?"  The Lord's response to him was "I cannot make you great.  Only you can by doing one thing which is to SERVE."

So to all of those who THINK you have power and you THINK you have Winnipeg or Manitoba at your fingertips, just remember one thing - Without YOU serving the people in every sense of the word, not pretending, lying or scheming, you are building a house made of straw or sand.

I will continue to Serve.  Wherever that leads me, I will be very appreciative as only the Lord knows best.  So, I encourage you all to Serve First.

The Way Forward

Until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior. Until the colour of a man's skin is no more significant than the colour of his eyes. Until there's no more First Class or Second Class citizen of any nation. Until that day... 'The Words of Bob Marley'
War, by Bob Marley with lyrics

As a two-time Liberal candidate who has always been very active in the West End, and a strong advocate for the environment, child care and other issues, I am proposing that we see Maclean's article as an opportunity to look at ourselves on the issue of racism. My experience living in Toronto for 5 yrs, Vancouver one yr, and now in Winnipeg since 1999 is my reason for being very optimistic of us dealing with this issue successfully.

We all know what we need to do within ourselves to be more tolerable to our neighbours, friends and associates. I am sure we have been on the receiving end of the kindness and compassion that is shown by others.

So, what's missing one could ask? Music, events, the city needs to have more entertainment throughout the year. Folklorama and the various summer festivities are clear examples of how different we all are but can come together in harmony and a community togetherness. I guarantee you that if Maclean's author, Nancy Macdonald, was to focus more on how Winnipeggers interact with one another during the summer the story line would have been different.

So I say 'Actions speak louder than words. Talk is cheap. For those of us who are interested in uniting our community and the Greater Winnipeg area - take a look what I am doing in the West End neighbourhood.

Block parties on Lipton Street every Canada Day. This will be our 3rd year doing this. Organizing the complete street from Portage to Notre Dame for 'The Longest Street Yard Sale in Winnipeg'. A perfect way to meet'n greet your neighbours. Dancin' in the street. Kids playing freely with other neighbours' kids some for the first time in 5 years. Barbequing and eating always brings many smiles.

Established the CRIG's list (Community Residential Improvement Guide) - neighbours helping neighbours. The list consists of folks who have a skill, live in the neighbourhood, and want to help folks complete projects around the home. It works!

Travelling to close proximity farms and get fresh produce to distribute it to local senior homes in the West End. Every Christmas I provide a very special treat, to use the one thing that God has blessed me with, my voice and sharing with the Seniors in a Christmas Sing-a-long in the West End.

So here's the question that needs to be asked, 'From my actions, do you think that I am discriminated against in any way, shape or form?

Here's something to ponder - after 8 months of lobbying City Hall on numerous occasions, bugging or making a nuisance of myself to all media houses for the official name change from 'Garbage Day' to 'Recycle Day', producing a recycling documentary, it was not until Matt Cundill of Power97 agreed with the idea before others began to embrace the name change. Today, everyone is into recycling. Thanks Matt!

My sincere wish is that one day when ideas are presented, that the idea is examined first on its merit and not one's political persuasion or colour of skin, eyes or hair.

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Yes We Can - Barack Obama

Ask Not what Winnipeg can do for You on the issue of Racism, but what You can do for Winnipeg. - Quote taken from President John F. Kennedy
   
Capital city for Racism news article in Maclean's

WELCOME NEIGHBOURS and FRIENDS!

WELCOME TO DON WOODSTOCK COMMUNITY CONNECTION!

We're happy you're here !

We look forward to updating you with community news,

special events, and happenings in Winnipeg's West End.

I'm Don Woodstock.  

Let me know how I can serve you as your neighbour and your friend in the
WestEnd neighbourhood. 

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